Redhawks still seek top-four finish

~ Currently eighth in the OVC, Southeast is just 1 1/2 games out of third place.

Southeast Missouri State's hopes of finishing in the top four in the Ohio Valley Conference were dealt a setback with Saturday's 87-80 home loss to Tennessee Tech.

But, with nine OVC games remaining, the Redhawks are certainly still in the hunt.

The Redhawks (7-13, 5-6) dipped into eighth place in the 11-team OVC with Saturday's defeat, although they are just 1 1/2 games out of third place in the scrambled league standings.

"The league race will fold and unfold week in and week out," Southeast coach Scott Edgar said Monday. "I think we're right in the thick of trying to get in the top four."

The top four finishers earn home games for the first round of the eight-team OVC tournament.

While the chances of the Redhawks catching first-place Austin Peay (8-1) and second-place Samford (8-2) probably aren't very good, all the other squads ahead of them are within range.

Up next for Southeast is a Wednesday game at surprising Morehead State (10-8, 6-4), which is one of three teams tied for third place despite being picked last in the OVC preseason poll after finishing last a year ago.

Tennessee Tech and Murray State are also 6-4 in the OVC, while others ahead of Southeast are Tennessee State (5-4) and Eastern Kentucky (5-5).

"It's very, very up there for the taking," Edgar said of a potential top-four finish. "I told the players we can do things to help ourselves, and at the same time we'll be sitting idle and we'll get help from some places."

With so many teams bunched so close together, there is a good chance there will be some ties at various points in the final standings.

Tennessee Tech owns a potential tie-breaker with Southeast because it won both games against the Redhawks.

Southeast split with Tennessee State, but the Redhawks have already won at Murray State and Eastern Kentucky, with those teams yet to visit the Show Me Center.

Wednesday will mark the first time the Redhawks have played Morehead State this season, making the Eagles the last conference squad Southeast has not faced.

"Tennessee Tech has a huge advantage because they swept us," Edgar said. "We split with Tennessee State, but we still have a chance to sweep Murray State and Eastern Kentucky.

"We haven't played Morehead State yet, which makes this [Wednesday[']s] game so big because whoever wins will have a chance to sweep the other."

The Redhawks, after playing two home games last week, still have four of their next six OVC contests at the Show Me Center, including Saturday against Murray State and Monday against Austin Peay.

Free-throw improvement

After struggling so much from the free-throw line for most of the season, the Redhawks have improved dramatically in that area over the past two games.

Southeast entered last week shooting 59.5 percent from the line, which ranked last in the OVC and among the worst nationally.

The Redhawks are still at the bottom of the conference and toward the bottom nationally, but they have bumped up their percentage to 61.7.

In OVC play, Southeast is out of the basement at 64.8 percent, which has the Redhawks 10th.

Southeast is 41 of 52 (78.8 percent) from the line in its last two games.

"If we can keep doing that the rest of the way, it will be an added weapon, because we want to get to the free-throw line a lot," Edgar said.

Willoughby nears return

For the first time since being sidelined with mononucleosis, senior guard Terrick Willoughby was on the Southeast bench Saturday, although in street clothes.

Willoughby has missed the past four games, but he will make the trip to Morehead State and Edgar said there is a chance he could see action against the Eagles.

Willoughby has done some individual workouts, but Monday he was scheduled to practice with the entire team for the first time since he became ill.

"I'd like to have his size, his length, his experience," Edgar said.

As to what factors will determine whether Willoughby plays Wednesday, Edgar said: "A lot depends on how the game is going, how he feels."

Foust honored again

Junior forward Brandon Foust has been named the OVC newcomer of the week for the second straight time.

Foust averaged 17.5 points in two games last week while shooting 66.7 percent from the field, including 83.3 percent from 3-point range.

Foust made eight of 10 field goals, including four of four 3-pointers, and scored 20 points in a win over Tennessee State, then added 15 points against Tennessee Tech.

For the season, Foust is Southeast's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 12.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.